GV t ^^^^____ 

w- 

J] f DOYLE'S 

NEW 

Instruction Book 



ON OCEAN 

BATHING 
SWIMMING 



AND- 



BOATING 



Price 25 Centi 



WILLIAM S. DOYLE 

Author and Publisher 

ASBURY PARK J* NEW JERSEY 



DOYLE'S 

NEW 

Instruction Book 



ON OCEAN 

BATHING 
SWIMMING 



•AND. 



BOATING 



Price 25 Cents 



WILLIAM S. DOYLE 

Author and Publisher 

ASBURY PARK # NEW JERSEY 



^ 



V -> 



% 



Copyright, 1910 

By W. S. DOYLE 

Asbury Park, N.J. 



©GI.A265986 



CONTENTS. 

Doyle's Record in Rhyme 5 

Preface 7 

General Remarks 9 

Remarks 11 

To Learn to Bathe 12 

To Learn to Float 16 

Remarks on Swimming 18 

How to Tread Water 19 

To Learn to Swim 21 

Dont's for Swimmers 24 

Life Saving 30 

How to Make a Rescue 31 

Boating 33 

Dont's for Boating 36 

The Rescue 37 

Ocean Waves 45 

Summer Time 45 

APIain Book 47 



Doyle's Record in Rhyme 

«£ 

Twenty-four years at the shore is a pretty 

good score, 
And there on the beach the swimming 

art to teach. 
When the people were in great danger and 

fear, 

Doyle was always found near to give 
them good cheer. 
When Doyle was around there was none 
ever drowned, 
And when Doyle was near there was no 
need of fear. 
It made no difference if the water were 
rough, cold or hot, 
Doyle always managed to be Johnny on 
the spot. 
When a person was carried out by a wave, 
Doyle was always ready for a life to save, 
And when he landed his man on the shore 
The people they cheered him by the score. 
5 



And Doyle always managed a rescue so 
fine, 
He was never known to have a life line. 
This may have a strange sound, yet where 
Doyle was around 
There never were found to be any one 
drowned. 
This statement of facts may not seem so 
fine, 
But there is proof that they are all 
genuine. 
To be honored with a hero medal by Uncle 
Sam, 
It must be proved that you are a brave 
man. 
And these few rhymes may sound like fun, 
But Doyle's life-saving record is second 
to none. 
To learn to bathe or swim and be right in it, 
Buy Doyle's' new book, it's right up to 
the minute. 



PREFACE. 

Through the numerous accidents and 
deaths by drowning from fear and lack of 
knowledge in swimming reported by the 
press throughout the country, the author has 
been induced to write this book from his 
past experience in ocean bathing. Its aim 
and object is to enable every person to teach 
themselves the art of swimming correctly 
and with most ease. Any person wishing 
to learn the art will find this book invaluable 
as a teacher, also to those who know how. 
The contents are in a condensed form and 
to the point. In these days of water sports 
and travels by water, it should not be neces- 
sary to state that every person should be 
taught how to swim as an accomplishment 
7 



of prime necessity. By this simple precau- 
tion, hundreds of lives could be saved every 
year. They should also be taught the 
danger of recklessness. There are many 
persons, even good swimmers, who meet 
death as a result of sheer fool-hardiness. 
Never within the scope of any book has this 
subject been more carefully compounded 
and described by any skilled swimmer. The 
book affords pleasure, valuable information 
and full instructions as to ocean bathing, 
swimming and boating. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 

It is through my many years of experience 
and successful dealing with the ocean that 
gave me the foundation and authority to 
write this book. 

I might not have been living today to tell 
the story if I did not know how to use the 
ocean. It was through a frightful and 
timely lesson I learned in August, 1887, 
and I will never forget it if I live ninety-nine 
years. It was only a few weeks after I had 
performed one of the greatest rescues on the 
Atlantic coast. 

On a Sunday afternoon, about two 
o'clock, the beach was deserted, it being 
dinner time. The ocean was calm and I 
felt like taking a swim, so I started and 
swam out about a quarter of a mile, when 
all of a sudden two monstrous high and 
heavy waves came and broke on me, one 
9 



10 
right after the other drawing me down under 
and I was nearly smoothered as the second 
broke on me before I was free from the 
first. It was only through being a power- 
ful swimmer or I would never have reached 
the surface and when I did and saw the 
distance I was out from land, it gave me 
the fright of my life. I might have drowned 
and no one would have ever known what 
had become of me. Ever since that time, 
when I felt like it, I always swam up and 
down the beach within the bounds of safety. 
I never was a "show off" or "stunt" swim- 
mer and very few people ever knew my 
ability as a swimmer until they read about 
my acts, but I was always a star bather. 
It was a profitable lesson and strange to say 
in my twenty-four seasons of ocean bath- 
ing and swimming, I have never met with 
the slightest accident, due only to my good 
judgment and careful actions while in the 
water. I am always at home in the ocean; 
it is one of my best freinds and I never 
abuse it, I just simply use it. 



REMARKS. 

There are no out-of-door games or exer- 
cise that can compare with ocean bathing 
and swimming for health and pleasure. It 
builds up the body uniformly by bringing 
every muscle into action. Daily baths keep 
the body supple. The salt water is a tonic 
and keeps the body in a healthy and vigor- 
ous condition. It also aids digestion and 
creates a good appetite. You can always 
eat and sleep well after an ocean bath or 
swim. It is good for the old and young 
alike. 

I can't describe in words the grand feel- 
ing and pleasure there is in ocean bathing 
and swimming, and for any person who can 
afford the time to bathe and swim and don't 
take it, lose the best and healthiest sport in 
the world. 



11 



To Learn to Bathe 

First secure a bathing time table. When 
convenient always bathe at low tide or an 
hour or so before or after and when the 
ocean is in a normal condition. Then there 
will be no need of holding the ropes or 
any other assistance. You can go any 
depth you like without fear as there is no 
danger. There is always somebody near 
by to help you out if in need. Throw away 
all fear and be as bold as you can. Watch 
and try to do all you see the other bathers 
do and if you have some friends who are 
good bathers take every chance you can 
to be with them. 

When the ocean is calm and the waves 
are unbroken and there is no strong current, 
12 



13 
spread out your arms like wings, wade out 
in the water until it reaches up under the 
arms; always keep them out resting on the 
water so as to help balance and guide the 
body. When a wave reaches you at the 
same time give yourself a little spring, and if 
necessary work your feet up and down with 
a high stepping motion to keep the body up 
while the wave passes. 

If a high wave comes and you can't get 
over it, duck or dive through it. When a 
running broken wave comes no higher than 
your shoulders, stand firm and cut it side- 
ways; have your feet spread and braced. 
Keep this up for a number of times until 
you learn the action of the water and waves. 
Then you can bathe at any time or condi- 
tion of tide. Always take the wave side- 
ways. Never let them strike you on the 
back or breast. 



14 

This is the surest, safest and quickest way 
to learn and finally become a good bather. 
This is the only rule that will give you any 
pleasure; any other will cause you pain. 

When you bathe at low tide the waves are 
not strong and you don't have to hold the 
ropes or stand in the breakers near the edge ; 
to be thrown down with the force of the 
waves; to have sore arms and be all broke 
up; stiff and tired out the next day; caus- 
ing it a dread to bathe instead of a pleasure. 

When you learn the knack of letting the 
waves lift you up and carry you along, it 
is a delightful sensation, of which you never 
tire or get enough. There are lots of grace- 
ful bathers and floaters that can't swim a 
stroke and there is no reason why all per- 
manent people cannot become good bathers 
or swimmers in a season if they go in the 
water at the right time. 



15 

Don't expect to have any pleasure or ever 
learn to bathe or swim by holding the ropes 
or standing near the edge letting the waves 
break on you. If there are other bathers in 
water and it is not over your head, go out to 
where they are. There is no danger. You 
could not drown if you tried as there are 
too many eyes watching and ready to give 
you help if in need. A timid person will 
never become a good bather or swimmer. 

Don't trust yourself to go with anyone 
in the water when it is dangerous, until you 
know they can swim and take good care of 
you. 



To Learn to Float 

First start by lying on the back with the 
arms straight out beyond the head with the 
hands turned up and hollow and the legs 
partly spread, hanging down at the knee, 
with head in water up to the eyes, mouth 
and nose, with the chest well expanded and 
holding the breath. 

Try this until you see you can stay afloat. 

Second, stretch out your legs straight with 
the body and the arms straight out beyond 
the head with the palms of hands turned up. 
Inflate the lungs with all the air you can 
possibly keep in by taking quick deep 

breaths. This keeps the body bouyant. 

16 



17 
Practice this in as still and deep water as 
you can. Don't mind if you take in a 
mouthful of water now and then. 

Keep this practice up when the water is 
calm until you have accomplished the art. 
Then you will have learned the most im- 
portant and graceful part of swimming, and 
one who can float may easily save himself, 
even if he cannot swim. 

In the second practice if you can get 
someone to hold one hand under your back 
to help balance and support your body it will 
advance you greatly and give you more 
courage in learning. 

Salt water is the best place to learn. 
Women learn more easily than men. Stout 
people and those with a uniform build of 
body learn very easily; also people with a 
good lung capacity. 



REMARKS ON SWIMMING. 

There is no set form or rule in learning to 
swim as it is an art unlike any other and as 
there are so many different forms of learn- 
ing; and if there was any rule the people in 
general would not or could not comply with 
it, as different people have different disposi- 
tions and do not correspond in courage, so 
particular and necessary in learning to swim ; 
as it is attended with more or less dread ; and 
a person might not learn in a lifetime de- 
pendingly solely on pictures and information 
they see in books. It can only be accom- 
plished by personal practice. 

It is also more or less dangerous under 
certain conditions to try and learn to swim 
by yourself without first having some per- 
sonal lessons from an experienced swimmer 
or instructor. 

18 



How to Tread Water 

Wade out in still water until you reach 
up to your neck. Have the arms and hands 
straight out from the sides on top of the 
water to guide the body. Then work the 
feet up and down quickly in a high stepping 
motion to keep the body from sinking. Keep 
this practice up for a few times and you will 
soon get the knack down so fine that you 
can almost stand still in deep water. 

This comes next to floating in importance 
as you can use your hands and give assis- 
tance and help people in case of drowning. 

Through being a good water treadder 

I saved a girl and myself from drowning in 
19 



30 
the ocean. The girl was heavier than I and 
she could not swim. We were carried by 
a strong current into a big, deep hole, and 
only a few yards from shore. The suction 
was terribly strong, holding us in the same 
place for the longest while. She had my 
both wrists in an iron grip, and we were at 
the mercy of the waves. 

There was no help within a few hundred 
yards except a nurse and child. At last the 
right wave came and we managed to get in. 
That was the narrowest escape I ever 
experienced. 



To Learn to Swim 

The ocean is the safest and quickest place 
to learn to swim. At the bathing ground 
there is always someone to watch and care 
for you. You can find any depth of water 
and someone to assist and give you advice. 

The salt water is more bouyant than fresh 

water and the waves help you along. 

To learn to swim, first learn to bathe well, 

or bathe a few times until you learn the 

action of the water. Then the quickest 

and safest way is to get a good rubber life 

preserver that fits well around your body 

under the arms. Then at low tide wade out 

in the water up to your waist. 
21 



22 

Before you try to swim first practice and 
learn to balance your body. Take a deep 
breath, lay down flat on the water upon your 
breast, with arms and legs stretched out. 
Make slow even motions with hands and 
feet and see how long you can stay up and 
keep from sinking. Keep the mouth and 
nose clear of the water. Hold all the air 
you can. Make yourself as light as you can, 
like as if you were lying on thin glass or ice 
and not to break it. You can practice this 
without the life preserver but it is best to 
have the preserver in helping you to swim. 

The simple knack in learning to swim is to 
balance and keep the body from sinking. 
Then after you have learned to balance the 
body next try and swim by drawing the arms 
and legs under the body. Strike out in front 
and draw around to side with hands and 



27 
currents, whirlpools and suctions, which may 
cause you lots of trouble to swim clear of. 

Don't fail to learn to float as soon as you 
learn to swim as there are times when you 
can't swim through being disabled by cramps, 
accident or exhaustion, and the ability to 
float may enable you to save your life. 

Throw an empty bottle in the still water 
and it will never sink while the mouth keeps 
above water. The same with our bodies but 
more bouyant and by keeping still and all 
under the water but the mouth and nose and 
by holding in all the air you can, the body 
will not sink. Try and practice this in still 
water and in as deep water as you can wade 
and still be safe. If you can't swim it may 
help to save your life in case you fall in 
deep water or be carried out by a current. 

Don't take any person out in the water 
when it is deep or dangerous, unless you fully 
understand the water and sure you can take 



28 
care of them. This is a common and foolish 
practice and causes no end of trouble and 
it makes a bad showing for those that do it. 

Don't swim seaward with the tide ; it is 
dangerous, and you may find it a hard 
struggle to return. 

Don't swim out to sea unless you know 
the condition of the tide. Always look at a 
tide table before entering the water ; by doing 
so it may save you trouble. You would 
never think of going to a depot to get a train 
without looking at a time table. 

Don't practice fast or long distance swim- 
ming in tide water. It's dangerous and 
foolish. It causes lots of trouble and often 
loss of life. 

Don't practice how far and fast you can 
swim; but practice saving your strength and 
how long you can swim and stay afloat. 

Don't take any unnecessary chances in the 
ocean or any tide water. It is extremely 
dangerous and full of traps. 



29 

Don't give way to fright or lose your 
nerve while out in the ocean. If you should 
happen to be caught in a strong current re- 
member your nerve is your main strength in 
the water and when that's gone you are all 
gone and there is no use to waste up all 
your bodily strength in trying to swim against 
the tide or current. Swim up or down or 
around it or stop swimming and rest up 
for awhile and float on your back; the cur- 
rent may change or let up, and finally if you 
can't make any headway toward shore call 
or motion for help. Don't do this unless you 
are surely in need as this is a very serious 
matter and by doing so you may draw others 
into danger. 

Don't grasp any person who approaches 
you ; do what he tells you. 

Don't attempt to get into a boat com- 
ing to your rescue ; catch hold of the stearn. 



Life Saving 

When a person is in distress far out in the 
ocean and you have no boat and there is a 
strong current running up or down on line 
of the beach, don't start out on a direct line 
with the person but before going out run up 
or down the beach a certain distance in 
opposite direction of the current, making al- 
lowance for it to carry you up or down while 
going out and to save your strength and not 
have to swim against the current. 

To know the condition of the tide or cur- 
rent before starting out is of great importance 
in life saving. The ocean is like a machine 
and you must study its ever changing move- 
ments carefully and well. Always keep 
posted on its present condition so in case of 
need you can act wisely and well. 
30 



How to Make a Rescue 

When a person is in distress, lose no time 
in reaching him. Keep cool and assure them 
that they are safe and to have no fear. Don't 
get in front if they are struggling. Don't 
let them take hold of you. Get behind and 
take hold of them by the arm above the 
elbow or the collar back of the neck; last 
and best, take a good hold of the hair and 
give them a strong quick pull on their back, 
which will cause them to float. Then 
turn on your back and draw the person's 
head upon your chest close to your chin. 
Then you have the person secure. Holding 
the person with one hand you have the other 
31 



32 
and both feet to swim with. Then you can 
easily and safely reach shore; and in this 
manner you can float as long as you please. 

Don't hurry. Take slow long strokes. 
When you feel you are in the big waves, 
ride each one as far as you can, resting 
between. 

While coming in if you get into a strong 
current don't swim ; float and wait until help 
reaches you. 



Boating 

In learning to row it is best to have some- 
one go out with you a few times and learn 
you how to hold the oars and make the 
plain forward stroke. 

Start in by holding the oars even and take 
slow strokes. Sit on the center of the seat 
always, having the boat as evenly balanced 
as you can. It makes it more safe and easy 
to row. In rowing across a stream keep 
headed towards the current or wind. In 
turning or landing a boat, head it against the 
wind or tide. 

To make a long round turn pull one 

oar and rest on the other. To make a short 

33 



34 
turn hold one oar hard in the water and pull 

hard on the other. To make a pivot stand- 
ing turn, pull on one oar and back stroke 
with the other with even strokes. When you 
want to stop quick hold the two oars in the 
water and press back on them as hard as 
you can. When you want to go to the right 
pull more on the left oar and when you 
want to go to the left pull more on the right 
oar. 

If you run aground at the bow all hands 
go to the stern with the oars and push off or 
twist the boat around and work it off. Never 
stand at the bow and try to get the boat 
clear. Work only from the stern. If hard 
aground some may have to get out before 
you can get the boat off. In rough water, 
swells or waves, cross the bow first. Never 
let the waves catch the boat sideways. 



35 
If the water becomes rough through a 
storm or the passing of a power boat, keep 
cool and lie down on the bottom of the boat 
and wait until the danger is past. If you 
find yourself upset in the water do not at- 
tempt to climb up on the overturned boat. 
Just simply catch hold of it, your hand rest- 
ing on an oar or almost any floating article 
will hold a body up in calm water, and 
whether a boat is upset or not it will sup- 
port as many people as can take hold of it 
if they will only keep still. Keep your 
head above the water and your lungs full 
of air and your presence of mind until help 
reaches you. 



Dont's For Boating 

Don't go out in deep or tide-water or take 
any person with you unless you know how 
to swim and manage a boat. 

Don't fool while in a boat or rock it un- 
less all hands are able to swim. 

Don't go out in a boat without having 
some lines, an anchor, a life preserver and a 
bailer. 

Don't attempt to change positions while 
in dangerous water. See that you are all 
right before leaving the shore. If you must 
change do it in a crawling form down in 
the boat. Avoid standing ; it may upset the 
boat. 

Don't ever jump in or out of a boat until 
it is securely held at the dock. This is a 
very dangerous and foolish practice. 

Don't step on the side or edge of a boat 
in getting in or out but always step on the 
bottom near the center. This will avoid 
tipping. As tipping is a thing most people 
dislike. 

36 



THE RESCUE. 

It was on August the eighth, 1887, I was 
at the North Spring Lake Bathing Pavilion, 
when I saw Mr. James Wells on a run down 
the boardwalk, and he shouted to me that 
there was some one drowning at the Wil- 
burton Hotel Bathing Beach, about a quar- 
ter of a mile distant, and after looking down 
the beach and seeing a large number of peo- 
ple, I started on a run down the boardwalk 
as fast as I could go and went past Mr. 
Wells less than half way to the Wilburton. 
As I was a good runner in those days, taking 
part in foot races, on my arrival at the beach» 
the beach was thick with people who eel 

lected from the hotel and cottages, and after 

37 



38 
getting through the crowd to the edge of the 

water, I saw a man named Captain H. in the 
broken surf about up to his waist in depth, 
and I asked what was the matter. Some 
one said there was a man out in the ocean 
drowning, and looking out it took me a few 
seconds to locate Mr. Truesdale as he was 
so far out that I could only see his head, 
and when a high wave came I could not see 
him at all and after I found his right posi- 
tion, I saw I was on a direct line with him, 
with Captain H. not half way out in the 
breakers with a board about four or five feet 
long. When a wave would come he would 
hold the board so that the wave would knock 
him back so as I saw he was making no head- 
way I made up my mind to go out and save 
Truesdale, and as there was a strong current 
running south, I ran north up the beach 



39 
about forty or fifty yards, before going out 

giving the current allowance to carry me 
down before I reached Trusedale. I could 
never have reached him to have started off 
where I was at as I would have to swim 
against the current. There was a number of 
young men standing on the beach looking 
at Truesdale drowning but none dared to 
go out, and when they saw that I was going 
out called to me and told me not to go, and 
said that I was a fool to risk my life, but I 
said there was a chance to save a man's life 
and in I went in the strong running and 
broken waves and when I reached the deep 
water I almost sank, and I thought I was 
done for as my strength had given 
out after my long hard run and 
plowing through the broken surf. 



40 
But I kept on, and after long and hard swim- 
ming around sea pusses, I reached Trues- 
dale, whose strength was nearly gone and he 
was merely paddling with his hands to keep 
up, and it was only his good sense that kept 
him afloat until I reached him as the strong 

current was fast taking him out to sea. When 
I first got near him he said, "For God's sake, 
help me, have you got a line?*' I said, 
"No, take it easy and we will get out all 
right," and he grabbed hold of me, and I 
tried hard to swim. Seeing I was making 
no headway I broke his hold and turned 
over on my back and got his head and 
shoulders resting on my chest. I held him 
with one hand and had the other and both 
feet to swim with. I was a good swimmer 
on my back and I soon had him under way, 
and after a long hard struggle, and just as 



41 
my last strength was giving out, and think- 
ing I would soon sink, I felt I was in the big 
rolling waves, and I rode each one as far as 
it would take us, resting between. At last 
a big roller carried us in and when it broke, 

landed us on our feet side by side safely on 
bottom. And after reaching the edge of the 
water we both sank down. After I had a 
drink or two of whiskey or brandy I was 
able to be up and around, but the Doctor's 
and Truesdale's friends carried him up to 
the hotel, and with a few days' nursing he 
was up and out, and the deed done and the 
victory won. It was only through my great 
strength, cool nerve and rare good judgment. 
The distance I ran was over eleven hundred 
feet actual measurement by tape measure, 
along the boardwalk, not counting the dis- 
tance between the boardwalk and the ocean. 



42 
While we were out in the ocean and we 
could feel nothing only a bed of water and 
<:ould see nothing but the sky, when a min- 
ute seemed like an hour and a yard like a 
mile, Truesdale said, "If you get me in out 
of here safe, you will never want for any- 
thing as long as you live/' And I have never 
heard from him personally, nor seen him 
since a few days after the occurrence when 
he gave me $100 in gold. 

Frank Williams lost his life in trying to 
save Truesdale; he had a life-line fastened 
to his body and it was too short to reach 
Truesdale from the beach, the usual form 
of saving life, and they say that Captain H. 
held the beach end of the line, and that 
when he saw that Truesdale was so far out 
in the ocean, and that he, H., would have 
to go out in deep water to make the line 
reach, he let go and poor Williams was 
drowned. All this happened before I ar- 



43 
rived at the scene. The fact was soon estab- 
lished after the excitement was all over, by 
finding Williams clothing in the bath-house. 
About six P. M. 4 a girl rode up from the 
hotel on horseback and said they thought 
they saw Williams' body in the surf and I 
rode down in a wagon with Mr. Wakeley, 
and after a good search we could find no 
trace of his body. So I instructed a few peo- 
ple at the time if any one would go up to 
the life-saving station and get a boat and a 
few hook-poles I would help find Williams' 
body. I said it would be any easy matter 
to hook the line up that was fastened to his 
body and it would be their only chance, as 
the tide was coming in, and after the tide 
came in and went out during the night, that 
the line would likely sand up and anchor 
the body, which it did. As he was a poor 
man no one seemed interested and his body 
was never found. 



45 
The ocean waves are so wild they run 

in with a roar. 
Full of fury and froth, where they land 

on the shore, 
To swim out in the ocean when the tide is 

on the ebb, 
Is like a fly's simple notion, flying around 

a spider's web. 



In the good summer time, 

When the water is fine, 
You can bask on the shore 

And watch the waves rolling o'er. 
It's great sport and fine 

To swim in the brine. 
You can have fun galore 

When you're down at the shore. 

W. S. Doyle. 



A Plain Book in Plain and 
Pleasing Words to the 
Point. In Plain Print for 
Particular People at a 
Popular Price. : : : 



JIJH 38 1910 






l ''i. #*- 



One copy del. to Oat. Div. 



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DOYLI 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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